2015 Hunt Wa Crawdad Mania

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

what pots/traps do you guys use? all mine they can just escape and I typically have a few and no bait.

Mostly use the 10$ Danielson traps. Have one Bullard trap and a couple schrimp pots. I pull them at about an hour soak so I don't get to many excapies.

[h20hunter]

I *had* two fo the basic cheepo cylinder pots. The have the funnel ends and connect in the middle. My idea was to put my bait in a crab bait "pouch" to keep it dead center. I'm down to one pot now. See above posts. Gotta call Shrimper....he's got a gimmie spot all picked out!

[Shrimper]

what pots/traps do you guys use? all mine they can just escape and I typically have a few and no bait.

Sounds like you have a spot loaded with dads; need to pull your pots sooner.  If not, use a bait bag that should keep them interested longer.

Basically what happens is the nearest dads go into the trap first and ravage the bait and then the bigger ones go in scare all the small ones out and then pack your bait out.  It can happen quickly if there are a large number of crawdads.
 

[DrakeKill]

ok tried it once last year and came up with nothing (though I only soaked the pot for a couple hours late one evening while I fished) - now I need to try again just to get the skunk off. Tried lake sawyer, dunno if that's any good or not? If anyone wants to show a guy; I'll drive and boat, might even pick you up at your doorstep - if not too far away  . Would love to find some south king county lakes that hold 'em.

[luvmystang67]

Does anyone know anything about 'dads in Lake Sammamish.  I'm inclined to want to put a trap somewhere in the slough at the north end of the lake, but that is predominantly a muddy bottom with lily pads.  I assume that lily pads and a mud bottom are not good crawdad habitat?  Can anyone lend some insight?  How much structure do they need?  Is a piling good enough, or do you need some underwater branches?  How about rocks, do they need rocks or just like rocks?

[LabChamp]

I've always found the largest numbers close to large rock piles. The slough has a bunch of crawdads, just look for some good rock and send em down. Sammamish is loaded with crawdads. Again, just look for rock piles of grapefruit sized rock or bigger and throw out the pots

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Does anyone know anything about 'dads in Lake Sammamish.  I'm inclined to want to put a trap somewhere in the slough at the north end of the lake, but that is predominantly a muddy bottom with lily pads.  I assume that lily pads and a mud bottom are not good crawdad habitat?  Can anyone lend some insight?  How much structure do they need?  Is a piling good enough, or do you need some underwater branches?  How about rocks, do they need rocks or just like rocks?

I have real good luck in rocky areas. I'm not sure why the crawfish up here prefer rocks over mud? The crawfish in the south say Louisianan like mud aka mud bugs......  Maybe a member from the southern states could emphasize on this caricterestic.?

[LabChamp]

Different species of crawdads may have something to do with it, as well as different habit and available food sources

[Evil_EdwardO]

Rocky areas for me too. I think it has to do with the species of crayfish. The ones up here (native Signal Crawfish) prefer rocky areas. Some of the species down south will actually make  burrows in the mud. I read that they do this when water levels get low. There are a few videos online that show how to find burrows and dig them up. Here's one:

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

That video was a good find! Very interesting. I've heard that crayfish will migrate in that part of the country from one swamp to another at night. If your lucky and find this happening across a road they use square point shovels and fill pick up truck beds up with them and have one big boil!

[Evil_EdwardO]

That video was a good find! Very interesting. I've heard that crayfish will migrate in that part of the country from one swamp to another at night. If your lucky and find this happening across a road they use square point shovels and fill pick up truck beds up with them and have one big boil!

That's how I heard the non-native ones spread themselves across this state. I've yet to see any of the non-native ones here on the eastside of the state. But, I'm usually setting my traps on the Snake River and not any of the lakes or other streams in the area.

[Evil_EdwardO]

I doubt I'll get out this weekend but you never know. Are we going to require any placards or cards with Hunt WA and 2015 on it this year with our pictures? Also, if you need help running this or if you need donations for prizes/awards let em know. Thanks.

[Shrimper]

I doubt I'll get out this weekend but you never know. Are we going to require any placards or cards with Hunt WA and 2015 on it this year with our pictures? Also, if you need help running this or if you need donations for prizes/awards let em know. Thanks.

That is a generous offer EdwardO, if you would like to pitch in something for a prize that would be awesome!  I have an idea for some trophies.

As for placards I don't think it should be necessary, we all seem to be honest folk.  One thing we could add is to get the measurment picture of your hogcraw alive.  Any other ideas?

[PA BEN]

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

That's a good find on the video PA Ben. Seems this crawfishing is taking the country by storm! Or maybe just me......